Over-the-Rhine

Cincinnati's Findlay Market is one of the American Planning Association's (APA) 15 Great Places in America for 2016. The organization annually puts out a list of its 15 great neighborhoods, streets and public spaces at the start of National Community Planning Month.

A former 19th century Over-the-Rhine church is getting a new life as an entertainment center. The former St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church at Twelfth and Elm will become the Transept.

"The Transept will be a private event space and public bar," said co-owner Josh Heuser. "The bar will be in the southwest corner. The bar will be open seven days a week with four private event spaces."

One change is the price. The original plan called for the permits to cost $300 a year. That has now been reduced to $108 annually. There would also be a lower rate of $18 a year for people in rent subsidized housing.

Mary Rivers with Over-the-Rhine Community Housing says she's still concerned with that part.

Cincinnati council's budget and finance committee voted today (Monday) to give control of 35 properties in Over-the-Rhine, mostly north of Liberty Street, to the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation for re-development.

The Over-the-Rhine Community Council opposed giving control of the properties to the organization, also known as 3CDC. The council argued that 3CDC already has too much control over development in Over-the-Rhine.